Toronto Raptors

**^{We’re no longer on track for a repeat of this masterpiece but the image was too good not to use!}**

In 2019 the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers met in an Eastern Conference Semifinal and it went the distance to a deciding seventh game in Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.

And, befitting a seventh game, it went down to the wire.

With two minutes remaining, the game was tied at 85. The Raptors scored four straight points before Philly countered with three free throws of its own to make it 89-88 with 12 seconds left.

Kawhi Leonard made just one of two free throws with 10 seconds left before 76er Jimmy Butler’s jumper knotted the game at 90 with four seconds left.

The final moments of the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. — ^{The final moments of the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals are captured in Toronto. Note the 0.0 remaining on the clock. The emotion visible on all the faces each tell a story do they not? With his right foot on the ‘R’ is Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid. Squatting next to Embiid is the shot’s shooter, Kawhi Leonard. Raptors Fred VanVleet (23) seems to be willing the ball into the basket as be steps off the bench. Philly’s Ben Simmons (25) appears resigned to fact that his season is over. 76er Jimmy Butler (only his head visible) can only watch. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBA Entertainment via Getty Images)}

With that as the backdrop, Leonard played the role of hero, nailing a fadeaway baseline jumper as the clock expired to not only give the Raptors the 92-90 victory (they went onto win the franchise’s only NBA Title), but also yielded this week’s epic #FanTeaser image.

Shot by NBA Entertainment’s Mark Blinch, it was described by The Guardian as a “Flemish masterpiece” (whatever that might mean) thanks to all of motion, emotion, and lighting found in the shot.

It went on to win a World Press Photo Sports Singles 2020 Award and, I must say, it seems for good reason.

^{The video of Leonard’s buzzer-beater from the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.}

Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, Vince Carter, participated in the NBA Dunk Contest exactly one time during his 22-year career: It was back in 2000 when the All-Start Game and its ancillary events were hosted by the Oakland Arena. It’s still one of those that’s talked about by NBA fans.

The image from this week’s Fan Teaser was captured just after Carter received a bounce pass from teammate, cousin – and fellow Dunk Contest participant! – Tracy McGrady. Carter went through his legs before throwing down a tomahawk jam.

As the Dunk Contest had begun to lose some of its luster (much the same way it has these days) it was uncertain whether Carter would even participate. There’s a terrific oral history that ESPN put together about how it came to pass. You’re able to read that piece here.

Always known as a high-flyer, Carter went onto to play a remarkable 22 seasons and 1,541 regular-season games through his age 43 season before retiring following a 60-game campaign with the Atlanta Hawks in 2019-20. He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in October 2024 and had, shortly thereafter, his jersey No. 15 retired by both the Toronto Raptors (his original team) and the New Jersey Nets (his second team) early in the 2024-25 season. (Additional viewing: His Raptors jersey retirement ceremony and his Nets jersey retirement ceremony.)

^{All of Vince Carter’s dunks during the 2000 NBA Dunk Contest.}

Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.

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